Hi all, started this build a few years ago and have been working on it on and off. Purchased the Pontos PE kit for it and will post the progress so far.

I've tended to go for the earlier era appearance, about the time HMAS Darwin came to Australia (1985) fresh out of Todd Shipyards in the US.

Its got the extended flight deck, but some of the other colour schemes will vary (all black anti foul instead of black, red) black whips, SPS-49 and pre ships boat conversion. So its technically not time period accurate but the appearance that I preferred.

The Academy kit is pretty nice, I haven't built any model for 25+ years.

Hull in 2 pieces. Added the PE as I went so you need to plan ahead a little and see what they provided and where they want you to put it.

Kit has the option for both short and long hull versions. Stern extension fits well.

Kit didn't have the stabiliser fins so I had to make my own and they are not technically in the correct location, a little aft than in real life but it was easier to trim the provided skegs back and place them close to the end.

Had to fill the rudder hole as its offsett in OHP FFG's to starboard a little.Attached the flightdeck, it then has a PE flightdeck which fits on top later.Drilled and tapped an aluminium piece to allow it to be fixed to a base later.Added main deck, fit was really good.Added some of the discharge holes and used a heated nail to form a slight raised round to represent the welds.The Pontos resin pieces are excellent. Kit CIWIS and resin for comparison.Nice to switch to something smaller for a quick result.

Point of interest, to get the right colour I just bought a sample pot of interior acrylic paint and thinned it down so I could spray it. That's really the only way you can buy this colour off the shelf. For anybody wanting the old R.A.N colour for "ships side grey" its N42 (storm grey)and for the deck its N63 Pewter. They have just started to adopt a more US style haze grey on the ships. Sprays and brushes on really well.

I knew it was a two piece hull. You did such a nice job removing the seam.

Mark

Thanks Mike.

Some more of the smaller components.

Mk13 launcher. Some nice Pontos additions, the inner and outer magazine ring access hatches. Notched out the lower end of the launcher arm that sits over the load position.

76mm gun turret gets a new Pontos barrel. .5mm hole required.

Drilled out the main engine exhaust holes on the stack. Added the vents and some PE

Anchor chain cover grate.

SPS-49 search radar. That was pretty full on to roll and put together.

CAS dome with PE extras. Added an extra detail on the front also. Didn't use the PE base platform as the side tubular supports were flat and they didn't look quite right, the kit piece wasn't too bad. Railings to be added later.

Chuck there wasn't a huge number of holes to fill, all the superstructure holes were on the vertical surface near the top, the others were spread apart a bit and filled easily.

Despite using flat PE cross bracing I ended up using the 49 mast and it looks OK, better than the kit supplied one.There is also a Pontos lower mounting supplied. They include a PE waveguide run that is pretty close to the original and a nice detail.

Painted the main funnel and radar parts.

Bridge keeps the top and loses some of the window section and also the raised sections (AAC platforms).

New PE section and some of the sides are kept to interface with the PE.

Completed base section.

Painted and railings, PE deck piece and CAS dome, SLQ-32 antennas.

I don't know how you guys build lots of these ships, never again!! This has been on the go for 3 years. What was I thinking buying a PE kit, adds 250+ extra pieces!! Still I'm too far in to turn back.

Excellent work so far! I want to work with PE, but I don't know if I could ever achieve this level!

Thanks Charlie, I got some tips form the many excellent builders on this site. Go slow and less is more initially. Do a piece at a time. Might find you spent an hour and only managed to build 2 boxes. Once you get the shape holding together you can go back and add some CA in places where it wont be seen for strength. Also find that paint can form a reasonable bond too.

You get a nice PE flight deck and hanger with tie down points and RAST detail.

Sprayed the Port side only as I planned to have the hanger door rolled up. Needed to file some of the brass away so I could get a decent fit when the superstructure goes on.

Forward superstructure and spray shields, there's PE replacements for the support columns but I stayed with the molded kit after a clean up as it was close to the original post.

All together with a strut to help with the alignment

I'm not too sure the PE top deck adds much value and it did prove to be a lot of work to clean up the fit around the edge where it meets the plastic. Everything lines up perfectly, its just a lot of risky work to get such a large surface area glued down and sitting flat.

I did have to remove a small PE section aft of the bridge that I didn't line up but I don't think its an issue.

Needed to modify the kit STIR director. Took the dish off and made a new cabinet enclosure.